NOTICES OF PERU. 



393 



smooth. They are an ugly race, and their full black dress con- 

 ceals any grace their figures may possess. It is called the 

 **capds'' (pronounced capoos). and consists of two pieces; the 

 lower part is a petticoat, extending from above the ankle to 

 the hips, around which it is gathered full ; the upper part is 

 straight, and may be compared to a bag, in which slits are left 

 for the head and arms ; it is looped up on the shoulders with 

 a black ribbon or string, like an infant's slip. A broad sash of 

 red passes round the hips several times, and secures the petti- 

 coat and lower edge of the captis," which being much longer 

 than the body, falls down in a sort of bagging fold, so as to 

 conceal the sash. The ^' capus," sitting loosel}^, falls off from 

 the bust in front, and discovers the white chemise of coarse 

 linen, embroidered with blue thread, and being neatly pucker- 

 ed about the neck, completely conceals the bosom. The sleeves 

 of the chemise are short, and also worked in blue or pink 

 thread. A scapulary of various virtues, or a string of black 

 beads and a cross pending in front, is the usual ornament of 

 the neck, when any is worn. To this costume, which does not 

 differ very materially from that used previous to the conquest, 

 is added a white poncho or shawl, woven in a blue pattern, 

 worn over the shoulders, and which occasionally serves to 

 sling ''the mother's joy" upon her back ; while she sits spin- 

 ning cotton after the fashion of Pacasmayo, or disposing of her 

 truck, the infant sleeps on her back, and lolls its head and arms 

 out of its sack, in vain endeavoring to reach the ground ; and 

 it is rarely that these children are heard to weep or complain 

 while near the mother. The little urchin soon learns to attract 

 the parent's attention, by tugging her ear or hair, and is sure 

 then to be hauled by the heels over the shoulder, and his lips 

 applied to the fountain of the purest as well as the earlies-t 

 food. 



On another side of the plaza, are three or four moveable 

 shambles for butcher's meat, shaded by mats, and surrounded 

 by a bevy of idle curs. Besides a variety of fruits, amongst 

 which are fine cherimoyas and grapes, several kinds of fish, 

 some salted, and some fresh, were spread out on mats ; amongst 

 those salted, were the flounder and skate. A small shell fish, 

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